Pakistan has started their ODI campaign under Mohammad Rizwan’s leadership with remarkable success. Following a morale-boosting whitewash in Australia, the Men in Green made history with a 3-0 series sweep in South Africa. These performances have significantly raised their profile ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy, positioning them as serious contenders rather than dark horses.
In the series finale at The Wanderers, Johannesburg, on Sunday (December 22), Pakistan secured a 36-run victory via the DLS Method. This all-round display has set them up confidently for the upcoming Test series. Despite challenging conditions, the visitors adapted well and delivered consistently.
Although Pakistan boasts a respectable ODI record in South Africa, a whitewash against the Proteas was unexpected. Let’s delve into three key factors behind this historic achievement:
1. Tactical Use of Part-Time Bowlers
While star performers like SaimAyub, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan dominated with the bat, the contributions of part-time bowlers in the middle overs were equally crucial. Historically, team balance has been a challenge for Pakistan, especially when accommodating additional spinners at the expense of batting depth.
In this series, Pakistan relied on a single specialist spinner, Abrar Ahmed, with Salman Ali Agha and SaimAyub sharing the remaining spin responsibilities. This approach provided Rizwan with tactical flexibility and allowed for a deeper batting lineup. With SufyanMuqeem emerging as a promising spin option, Pakistan’s spin department now appears more balanced compared to the previous setup involving Usama Mir, Shadab Khan, and Mohammad Nawaz.
2. Shaheen Afridi’s Versatility
ShaheenAfridi proved to be a game-changer in all three matches. Despite enduring a tough white-ball series, he showcased his effectiveness beyond the new ball. Afridi’s seven wickets in the series were distributed across crucial middle and death-over spells, challenging the perception that he is a powerplay-only bowler.
Although Afridi struck just once in the powerplay, his ability to maintain pressure and create opportunities in later phases was pivotal. His middle-overs impact allowed spinners and Haris Rauf to capitalize, demonstrating how a well-rounded pacer can anchor a bowling attack. Even without significant early breakthroughs, Afridi’s precision and persistence made him a consistent threat.
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3. SaimAyub’s Breakout Performance
SaimAyub emerged as the star of the series with two brilliant centuries. The left-hander’s dynamic batting, coupled with his ability to set an aggressive tempo, was instrumental in Pakistan’s success. Ayub’s innings not only provided stability at the top but also freed the middle-order to play with greater confidence.
Pakistan’s middle-order had been a long-standing concern, plagued by Iftikhar Ahmed’s inconsistency and Saud Shakeel’s struggles. However, Ayub’s emergence, paired with Mohammad Rizwan’s reliability, has brought much-needed clarity and strength to this critical area.
With these factors contributing to their ODI dominance, Pakistan has laid a strong foundation for future successes. If they continue refining their team balance and leveraging their emerging stars, they could pose a formidable challenge in upcoming global tournaments.